Today we’re excited to introduce you to Alexia Martinez, who has been volunteering at
Marietta House Museum since 2017. Alexia has a passion for both science and history and, in her own words, shares a little bit about her background and what Marietta means to her. Thank you, Alexia, for your dedicated service!
I am an Environmental Scientist for the US Navy. I studied at the University of Maryland, College Park with a degree in Environmental Science. I also have a Master’s Degree in Environmental Science. You can say that I am addicted to science and have been ever since the day my sixth-grade teacher took our class to Fox Island off the Chesapeake Bay. I am an urban kid that has never seen the sky filled with stars because in my neighborhood, there was too much light pollution. I met two research scientists and saw them pulling mussels from nets. I went up to them and asked what they were doing. They informed me that they were studying the health of the bay, and with wide eyes, I asked, “You get paid to do this?” They both laughed and said, “YES!” From then on, that became my career goal, and I continue to love the work that I do every day.
My other passion is history. I was one of those people that would see an old house or item and fall in love with the idea that this object was here way before me and that it should be treasured. It intrigued and fascinated me and I wanted to learn more about it. When I moved to Glenn Dale, I discovered Marietta after a long, stormy, and wet bike ride. While peddling uphill, I came across the beautiful old brick manor and green fields and thought, “Wow, if this place could talk.” I found the house soothing and when I learned there was a library, I was hooked! I love the activities that are hosted here and assist as much as I can. Marietta is the one place that I feel has successfully combined the historic setting with the social and educational lectures and events such as wine tastings and lovely tea parties.
Another reason I like volunteering is that it gives me an opportunity to use another skill that I have learned along the way, photography. I love taking pictures of Marietta and the surrounding community. Photography for me is capturing that one point in time we will never get again…the photograph is the evidence that I was lucky enough to seize the moment! Studying, learning and volunteering helps me to capture the many moments that we have in life and understanding my place in the universe.
